There are strong indications that the federal government is about to gazette the appointment of Nigerian Shippers’Council as the ports’ economic regulator, even as the Council has appointed three consulting firms to assist in her new role.
The Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Shippers’ Council, Barrister Hassan Bello dropped the hint yesterday at an interactive session with maritime journalists in Lagos.
According to him, President Goodluck Jonathan is about to receive the gazette, which will confirm the appointment of the council.
The three consulting firms appointed by the Council are: CPCS, Nafith and Mark Analytical.
Bello further disclosed that the three consulting firms are to assist the council in discharging its obligations as the economic regulator of the port.
Speaking further on the role of the consultants, the Shippers’ Council boss said that the Canadian based firm; CPCS will help to guide the council in its regulatory roles.
On Nafith; a Jordan / USA-based firm, Bello explained that their duty is to sanitise the ports just like what they have helped to sanitise the port of Jordan and is currently working with the World Bank.
He said that Nafith will look at infrastructures and what is needed to be put in place to ensure that the ports are competitive and effective.
Speaking on the third firm; Mark Analytic which, according to him, is affiliated to Lagos Business School, the Executive Secretary disclosed that the consulting firm will cover areas of manpower development.
Bello pointed out that, as an economic regulator it has the responsibility to ensure that the ports are competitive.
He said after the implementation of the federal government's port reform programme which led to the concession of port terminals to private operators, the government noticed a disturbing vacuum in the maritime sector, which include absence of an economic regulator that will act as a referee in the industry.
"The inefficiency in the procedures and operations of agencies and service providers and even users are adversely affecting and undermining Nigeria's competitive advantage in international trade.
He explained that the council is to monitor and correct any disorder in the working of a free market to address anti- competitive behaviour.
According to him, the council is to assess options for competition, to decide on entry rules, to regulate on pricing freedom and to also monitor outcomes.
The council's boss reiterated that effective regulation requires much more than just competent economic and financial analysis but must also manage often complex interaction with the regulated firms.
Bello further noted that as an umpire in port operations, the process should be fair to all parties adding that, "procedural transparency, lack of arbitrary decisions, balancing the needs of stakeholders" is a necessity.
Harping on the need to carry stakeholders along in the performance of its roles, Bello added that: "The involvement of stakeholders is an important source of legitimacy and public acceptability for regulatory agencies and other decision making procedures".
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